Abbey Hansen 

Cellist, artist-teacher and Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) registered Cello Teacher Trainer, Abbey Hansen, maintains an active teaching and performing schedule in the Cleveland area where she has lived and taught since 2016. As founder and director of Cleveland Cello School, Ms. Hansen maintains a full and active studio of cello students ages 3 and up and their families. In addition to her work with Suzuki students, she conducts a two-year graduate Suzuki teacher-training program, part of a unique dual Master's degree in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Prior to her appointment at CIM, Ms. Hansen served on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, Rockford College Music Academy, Community School of the Arts at Northern Illinois University and Music Academy at Lawrence University. An in-demand guest clinician, Ms. Hansen has taught and lectured at workshops and institutes from coast to coast. Ms. Hansen has also performed in several chamber music ensembles in the Chicagoland area and has been featured on faculty and alumni recitals throughout the Midwest. In 2006, she had the privilege of performing in a friendship concert at the Suzuki Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. In 2016 Ms. Hansen became the youngest ever registered Suzuki Cello Teacher Trainer. She is also the recipient of the Suzuki Association of the Americas' Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki education.

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Ms. Hansen's students have served as principal players in Chicago area youth orchestras, Interlochen, Blue Lake, Chicago Suzuki Institute, Lev Arrionson Festival, National Youth Orchestra, and SPHINX summer festivals, have participated in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Cleveland Youth Pops Orchestra, and have been selected to join the Suzuki Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Hansen Studio cellists have placed in numerous Chicagoland and Cleveland area competitions including Granquist, Protege Philharmonic, Rockford Women's Club and Midwest Young Artists, earned unanimous superior ratings at OFMC, and have continued their cello studies at top conservatories including CIM and CIM’s Young Artist Program and Oberlin Conservatory and at such universities as, Amhurst, Drake, Brown, The Ohio State University, Swarthmore College, and University of Illinois. In addition to being a Suzuki cello teacher, Ms. Hansen is a Suzuki mom, having worked with her two children as both mom and teacher since they were each 3 years old.

 

Ms. Hansen grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and began her cello studies in the public school system. She graduated from Lawrence University earning a Bachelor’s of Music in cello performance and continued her education as the Dutton Low Strings Fellow at Northern Illinois University, earning both a Masters of Music (Cello Performance and Pedagogy) and a Performers Certificate. In addition to extensive pedagogy training throughout her collegiate career, Ms. Hansen holds registered Suzuki training in all units. Her primary cello teachers include Betsy Hawtrey, Janet Anthony and Marc Johnson.